Tom Heckert, former Broncos personnel executive, dies at 51 By Ryan O’Halloran The Denver Post August 7, 2018 Former Broncos personnel executive Tom Heckert passed away Sunday night, the team announced Monday. He was 51. Heckert worked for the Broncos from 2013-17 before stepping away to focus on battling amyloidosis, a rare incurable disease described as the buildup of proteins in the heart, kidneys, liver and other organs. There are fewer than 200,000 cases of amyloidosis in the United States each year, according to Mayo Clinic research. The Broncos will hold a moment of silence to honor Heckert before Saturday’s preseason game against Minnesota. Heckert is survived by his mother, Rose, children, Griffin and Madison, and former wife, Kathy. Heckert spent 27 years in the NFL and was the Broncos’ director of pro personnel from 2013-16 and a senior personnel adviser last year. “Tom was an integral part of our organization and we’re all incredibly saddened today,” Broncos general manager John Elway said in a release. “With his many years of experience and time as a (general manager), Tom was a tremendous resource and a key member of our team.” Heckert spent a combined seven years as an NFL general manager with Philadelphia (2006-10) and Cleveland (2010-12). He was hired by the Broncos in May 2013. “He was a very good evaluator — he had an eye for talent, and we always trusted his voice,” Elway said. “It’s easy to see why Tom was widely respected and had so many great relationships across the league. I’ll always be grateful for how he helped me transition into this position. My prayers go out to Tom’s family, friends and everyone he worked with during his career.” Heckert began his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins in 1991 when he worked as an unpaid intern before the draft. His father, Tom, Sr., was in the Dolphins’ front office. After the draft, coach Don Shula told Tom Sr., that he wanted to hire Tom, Jr., as a full-time scout. Father and son worked with each other for 10 years. Heckert stayed with the Dolphins for 12 years, rising to director of pro personnel. In a 2011 profile in the Akron Beacon-Journal, Heckert said a system he devised to draft players prompted him to advise coach Jimmy Johnson to draft cornerback Sam Madison because defensive end Jason Taylor, the player Johnson preferred, would be available a round later. The Dolphins selected both players and Taylor was a first- ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. In 2001, Heckert began a decade with the Eagles, rising from director of pro personnel (2001-03) to vice president of pro personnel (2003-06) to general manager (2006-10). Heckert was the Eagles’ general manager, but coach Andy Reid had final say on personnel. During Heckert’s tenure, the team made four straight NFC title games and the Super Bowl after the 2004 season (lost to New England).Under Heckert’s watch, the Eagles drafted or acquired kicker David Akers, receiver DeSean Jackson, offensive tackle Jason Peters and cornerback Asante Samuel. “My family and I are heartbroken over the loss of Tom. I was privileged to work with him in Philadelphia and we developed a great friendship and trust over the years,” Reid, now the coach of the Chiefs, said in a release. “He was a special talent evaluator and well respected across the league. Beyond the game, he was an exceptional person and someone I leaned on throughout our time together. My thoughts and prayers go out to Tom and his family. He will be greatly missed.” While with the Eagles, Heckert hired Matt Russell, now the Broncos’ director of player personnel. Russell called Heckert a “beloved friend for many years.” “The biggest thing with Tom was his loyalty, how he cared about his friends and how good he was at his job,” Russell said in a release. “Tom was one of the best because he combined exceptional player evaluation skills with his incredible network of connections around the NFL. Those relationships he formed are a testament to how well he treated everyone. Tom was a loyal friend and my heart goes out to his family.” Heckert was hired as Cleveland’s general manager in January 2010, working with team president Mike Holmgren. Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur were fired after the 2012 season. In a statement to The Denver Post, Shurmur, now the New York Giants’ coach, said: “We received the sad news (Monday) morning. Tom and I worked closely together during our years in Philadelphia and Cleveland. Tom was a career football man and an outstanding father. Tom had some health issues of late, and again, this is just sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with Tom’s mother and his children.” Broncos Mailbag: Is Paxton Lynch good enough to be Denver’s backup QB? By Ryan O’Halloran The Denver Post August 7, 2018 Is Paxton Lynch good enough to be the backup QB or should the Broncos be grooming Chad Kelly as the backup QB? — Ron Spangler, Steamboat Springs Ryan: No and yes. Lynch’s up-and-mostly-down training camp should raise concerns inside the Broncos headquarters. Could Lynch win a game if Case Keenum had a sprained ankle or bum shoulder? They would need to rely on their tailbacks and defense to cover up Lynch. Kelly should be groomed as the future backup, but his lack of experience suggests he won’t be ready for that role until 2019. As it seems the Broncos have been absent of team emotional leaders on defense, offense, as well as special teams, who do you see filling those roles for the specific groups this year, and if leaders again fail to materialize, what are possible consequences? — Max Million, Colorado Springs Ryan: Good question, Max, and it’s a topic coach Vance Joseph discussed last week. He listed receiver Demaryius Thomas, center Matt Paradis and left guard Ron Leary on offense and cornerback Chris Harris, linebacker Todd Davis and safeties Darian Stewart and Justin Simmons on defense. He has also praised quarterback Case Keenum’s leadership throughout camp. Plus, it’s been interesting to see how much linebacker Von Miller helps his younger teammates during practice and walkthroughs. As for possible consequences, no leadership means no accountability in the locker room, but that doesn’t appear to be a problem. At what point this season will the power-that-be, Mr. Elway, say, “Enough is enough,” and send Vance Joseph packing? As a remote-viewing Broncos fan, I’ve certainly seen enough of the VJ show to know how it’s going to end. At what record will it be that VJ is fired: 1-3, 2-5, 3-7? Or will we have to watch re-runs of last season? — Vincent Pawlowski, Tampa, Fla. Ryan: Slow your roll, Vincent — the Broncos haven’t even played a preseason game yet. It has been startling to hear from fans who are predicting doom for Vance and even an in-season firing –Vincent is not alone. Elway has never fired a coach in-season and things would have to go in the toilet for him to make such a rash move. Maybe something like 3-9. An issue: Who would be the interim head coach? On paper, this looks like possibly Elway’s best draft ever. I can easily see three or four potential future starters coming out of this draft (two wide receivers, Josey Jewell, with Isaac Yiadom as a dark horse). Your thoughts? — William Christensen, Orem, Utah Ryan: The immediate impact of several of the draft picks speaks to how well the Broncos identified them during the pre-draft process but also the weakness of the depth chart they joined. I see future starters in linebacker Bradley Chubb, tailback Royce Freeman, receiver Courtland Sutton, inside linebacker Josey Jewell and nickel back Isaac Yiadom. Receiver DaeSean Hamilton could also be in the mix like David Williams. The thought of relying on Tramaine Brock, Brendan Langley and Isaac Yiadom as the third and fourth cornerbacks is a little frightening for a unit used to such dominance. Any chance the Broncos bring back Kayvon Webster? He’d provide great insurance on special teams and CB depth, and seems like a safer, cheaper bet than Brock. — Shaun, Grand Junction Ryan: I’ll go with “concerning,” more than “frightening.” Brock has missed the last week with a hamstring injury and he is wasting an opportunity to be the third cornerback. Langley has struggled during camp and he’s wasting an opportunity to be the third or fourth cornerback. Those two developments have opened the door for Yiadom and C.J. Smith. Most teams wait until they get through the first one or two preseason games before bringing in a veteran so Webster is probably not on the radar yet. So what are Phillip Lindsay‘s odds at making this team? I loved watching him at CU and would certainly be a good presence on this team. — Kevin M., Denver Is Courtland Sutton the real deal? I’ve heard nothing but praise for him since we drafted him, but can he actually step up and become a viable contributing threat for the team this season? — Long, Santa Fe, N.M. Ryan: We’ve had nothing but praise for Sutton since the offseason workouts began in late May. He thrived without pads. And he has thrived with pads. As cornerback Chris Harris noted, Sutton can run a “go” route, but the key will be running all of the patterns.